Treatment with statins in the acute phase of ischemic stroke

Although statins are being used for the secondary prevention of ischemic stroke, recent experimental data have shown new pleiotropic effects of these drugs independent of their lipid-lowering properties that might be responsible for their role in neuroprotection. In fact, statins have been successfully tested in animal models of acute cerebral ischemia. In humans, the possibility that statins could be used for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke has not yet been addressed, however, a pilot trial and observational studies testing this approach showed promising results for a disease in which tissue plasminogen activator is the only available treatment for a reduced number of patients. The aim of this review is to answer the basic question of whether treatment with statins initiated in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is feasible and if it can improve neurologic outcome. The possible benefits of this scenario will be discussed.